sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bandadka, Communist Marxist Party, Elections in Kerala, Indian Youth Congress, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (B)

Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: IND34491 Country: Date: 4 March 2009

Keywords: India – IND34491 – 2004 elections in – district general secretary – district

This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein.

Questions 1. Which party or coalition won the in 2004? And which party or coalition is currently in power in Kerala? Where possible please provide information on the area of Kasaragod. 2. Where in the structure of the INC is the position of district general secretary situated? 3. Please provide information on in Kasaragod including political violence. 4. Deleted.

RESPONSE

1. Which party or coalition won the elections in Kerala in 2004? And which party or coalition is currently in power in Kerala? Where possible please provide information on the area of Kasaragod.

2004 national elections in Kerala

May 2004 saw the completion of national election polls in Kerala. The 2004 national election ended as a victory for the United (UPA), a coalition of parties led by the (INC). While the INC polled well in many of India’s states it did poorly in Kerala where it failed to win a single seat. The poor showing of the INC was read by some commentators as a vote against the performance of the INC at the state level (at the time the INC controlled the Kerala state government). Most of the vote in Kerala in 2004 went to the –Marxist (CPI-M) who, at that time, were in opposition in Kerala state politics as the leading party of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition (one seat went to the Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP), and ally of the Bharatiya (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition). While the INC and the CPI- M were thus competitors at the level of state politics and in the national polling process itself, the CPI-M candidates elected to the national legislature in 2004 would, in the post election

1 alliance formation bargains, go on to give their support to the INC led UPA coalition in the national legislature. This partnership ended in June 2008 when the CPI-M, along with four other left wing parties, withdrew support from the INC led UPA over the terms of a nuclear energy deal being negotiated with the United States (for information on the 2004 polling results in Kerala, see: Krishnakumar, R. 2004, ‘A red-wash in the South’, Frontline, vol.21: no.11, 22 May http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2111/stories/20040604006302600.htm – Accessed 3 March 2009 – Attachment 1; and: Kumar, G.G. 2004, ‘Kerala bucks the national trend, once again’, , 20 May http://www.hinduonnet.com/elections2004/verdict2004/stories/2004052000230300.htm – Accessed 3 March 2009 – Attachment 2; for an overview of Kerala’s LDF and UDF coalitions and their various relationships with national political coalitions, see: Iype, G. 2006, ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’, Rediff.com, 10 April http://www.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 20 October 2008 – Attachment 3; for the recent withdrawal of the CPI-M from the UPA over the nuclear deal, see: ‘Left pulls out, will meet President Patil on Wednesday’ 2008, Express India, 8 July http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Left-pulls-out-will-meet-President-Patil-on- Wednesday/332876/ – Accessed 20 October 2008 – Attachment 4).

The seat of Kasaragod reportedly went to a CPI-M candidate, P. Karunakaran. The INC candidate, N.A. Mohammed, finished third in the Kasaragod poll (see: ‘Historic win for Left; Congress draws blank’ 2004, The Hindu, 14 May http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/14/stories/2004051406690700.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 5; ‘Kasargod Parliament Constituency’ (undated), Administration website http://kasargod.nic.in/administration/mp.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 6).

2004 by-elections in Kerala local politics

September 2004 saw by-elections in Kerala state politics including in the area of Kasaragod. According to The Hindu: “The bypoll list included three district panchayat wards. In Punnapra division of district panchayat and Karadukka division of Kasaragod district panchayat, the CPI(M) candidates, P. K. Rathi and A. Chandrasekharan, won by handsome margins of 9,748 votes and 5,403 votes respectively” (‘LDF wins majority of seats in civic bypolls’ 2004, The Hindu, 30 September http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093011120400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 7).

2006 Kerala state elections

Kerala’s most recent state government elections took place in May 2006 and ended as a victory for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition. Led by the Communist Party of India– Marxist (CPI-M) the 2006 LDF coalition also consisted of: “Communist Party of India, -Secular, -J, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Indian National League, Kerala Congress-S and Congress-S”. The victory of the LDF in May 2006 saw the United Democratic Front (UDF) governing coalition removed from office. Led by the Indian National Congress (INC, or Congress) the 2006 UDF coalition also consisted of: “Kerala Congress (Mani), Janathipathya Samrakshana Samiti, Kerala Congress (B), , Revolutionary Socialist Party (Shibu faction) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (Babu Divakaran faction)”. News reports have noted that the May 2006 state election result continued a trend wherein the Kerala electorate has swung back-and-forth between the LDF and the UDF at successive elections (for an overview of the

2 May 2006 state election results in Kerala, see: ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007 – Attachment 30; Muraleedharan, N. 2006, ‘2006: Political conflicts in Kerala’, Rediff.com, 20 December http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/20year.htm – Accessed 6 July 2007 – Attachment 8; Lype, George 2006, ‘Kerala: Where change is static’, Rediff.com, 11 May http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/may/11gi.htm – Accessed 6 July 2007 – Attachment 9; Election Commission of India 2006, Statistical Report on General Election, 2006 to the Legislative Assembly of Kerala, Election Commission of India website http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_2006/StatReport_KL_2006.pdf – Accessed 20 October 2008 – Attachment 10).

2. Where in the structure of the INC is the position of district general secretary situated?

According to the INC constitution local general secretaries hold office within primary committees. “The President shall appoint the General Secretary from amongst the Members of the Executive Committee”. Persons obtain office within the Executive Committee via elections at the primary committee level.

Rule Under Article VIII (a) – Primary Committee:

1. A Primary Committee will be the basic unit of the Organisation.

2. A Primary Committee shall, as far as possible, correspond to the area of territory falling under one Polling Booth or Polling Station in the General Elections.

3. All Members of the Primary Committee shall meet at an appointed time and place and elect the President, Vice-President and a Treasurer and the Executive Committee of the Primary Committee.

4. The President of the Primary Committee and the delegates to the Block Congress Committee shall be elected from amongst the Members eligible under Article V (A) (b). Any Member can seek election to the Membership of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint the General Secretary from amongst the Members of the Executive Committee.

5. The Election of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Executive Members of the Primary Committee shall be by show of hands (Constitution & Rules of The Indian National Congress (As amended by the AICC meeting at Delhi on 17th November, 2007) & Rules (As approved by the Congress Working Committee at its meeting on 7th November, 2007 & Ratified by the AICC on 17th November, 2007), Indian National Congress website http://www.aicc.org.in/Constitution%20FINAL%2012.6.08.pdf – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 11).

The following further articles from the INC constitutions relate to this issue of party governance at the district level and may be of interest:

Article III Constituents

The Indian National Congress will include the plenary and special sessions of the Congress and,

(i) The All India Congress Committee,

(ii) The Working Committee,

3 (iii) Pradesh Congress Committees,

(iv) District/City Congress Committees,

(v) Committees subordinate to the District Congress Committee like Block or Constituency Congress Committee and other subordinate Committee to be determined by the Pradesh Congress Committee concerned.

…Note: In this Constitution wherever the word “Pradesh” occurs, it will include “Territorial”, the word “District” will include “City” as required by the context.

…Article V Membership

…(iv) Permanent Register of members within their jurisdiction shall be maintained by every Block/Constituency and City/Town Congress Committee with copies to the District Congress Committee, as per prescribed rules;

…4. a. The District Congress Committee shall be primarily responsible for the enrolment of members in the district. The PCC shall issue membership forms to the DCCs which in turn shall issue them to the subordinate Congress Committees and through them to individuals. Not more than 1250 membership forms shall be supplied to an individual at a time. However, in the case of MPs, MLAs, MLCs and AICC members and PCC Office-bearers, 2500 membership forms may be supplied to such individuals at a time. More membership forms shall be supplied to individuals only when full account of the forms already supplied is rendered and the fees realised thereof are paid.

…Article VI Term of Congress Committee

…(iii) No Office Bearer of the Party shall hold an office ordinarily for more than two consecutive terms at Block/District/PCC levels.

…Rule Under Article VI (ii) – Meetings of Congress Committee :

The General Bodies of Pradesh Congress Committees shall meet at least once in six months and the Executive Committees at least once in three months. Similarly, the General Bodies of District Congress Committees shall meet at least once in six months and the Executive Committees at least once in two months or as often as may be required.

…Article X District Congress Committee

A DCC shall cover an area prescribed by the PCC in its Constitution and shall consist of :

(a) Six members elected by secret ballot by each Block Congress Committee to the DCC as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee;

(b) All ex-Presidents of the DCC who have completed a full term of 365 days and have continued to be members;

(c) Members of the PCC who reside in or have been elected from the District;

(d) Presidents of the Block Congress Committee, provided that they shall not be eligible to become either President or Secretary of the DCC;

(e) Members of the Legislature Congress Parties, both Central and State, from the district, provided that they are members;

4 (f) Leaders of the Congress parties in Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and District Boards/Zila Parishads or Janpads in the District, provided that they are members;

(g) Members co-opted by the DCC Executive as per rules prescribed by the Working Committee.

Rule Under Article X – District Congress Committee

1. (a) A candidate for election to a District Congress Committee need not necessarily be a member of a subordinate Congress Committee. Only a Member shall be entitled to be a candidate.

(b) A candidate for election to a District Congress Committee should ordinarily be resident of the District concerned.

(c) Voting in the election of Members of a District Congress Committee by the unit members of the subordinate Congress Committee shall be by ballot.

2. Special categories of persons, not adequately represented mentioned in Sub- Clause (g) of Article X, shall be co-opted by the Executive of the District Congress Committee from (i) Women, (ii) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, (iii) Minorities, (iv) Trade Unions, (v) , (vi) National Students’ Union of India, (vii) Congress and (viii) persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of literature, science, arts, social services etc. in the proportion of 15 per cent of the members of a DCC coming under clause (a) of Article X provided that in case of co-option of Youth Congress Workers, no person who is more than 30 years shall be eligible for such co-option. (Constitution & Rules of The Indian National Congress (As amended by the AICC meeting at Delhi on 17th November, 2007) & Rules (As approved by the Congress Working Committee at its meeting on 7th November, 2007 & Ratified by the AICC on 17th November, 2007), Indian National Congress website http://www.aicc.org.in/Constitution%20FINAL%2012.6.08.pdf – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 11).

3. Please provide information on Congress in Kasaragod including political violence.

2004 Reports – Congress in Kasaragod: candidates, office holders, and events

In August 2004 The Hindu reported that “The president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, has assigned the responsibilities of the new office-bearers of the KPCC”. The report made specific reference to Kasaragod noting that responsibility for the area would go to the KPCC general secretary, “Mullapally Ramachandran”.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 10. The president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, has assigned the responsibilities of the new office-bearers of the KPCC.

A.C. Jose, vice-president of the KPCC, will be in charge of Kozhikode, Malappuram and districts, in addition to the charge of the INTUC, universities, local bodies and party publications.

The treasurer of the KPCC, C.N. Balakrishnan, has been given the charge of and districts, with additional charge of the Mahila Congress, cooperative and handloom sectors. The general secretary, Mullapally Ramachandran, will be in charge of Kasaragod,

5 and districts, in addition to Karshaka Congress, Matysa Thozhilali Congress and service organisations.

Kodikunnil Suresh, general secretary, has been put in charge of , , Idukki and Alappuzha districts, apart from the Youth Congress, Dalit Congress, Coir Thozhilali Congress and Cashew Thozhilali Congress. C P Mohammed, another general secretary, will look after Wayanad and Thrissur districts, in addition to Kerala Students’ Union, Ex- servicemen Congress, Pravasi Congress and cultural affairs (‘Thennala assigns responsibilities to KPCC office-bearers’ 2004, The Hindu, 11 August http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/11/stories/2004081108630400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 13).

An April 2004 Hindu report also provides information on persons of note. According to this report the “UDF candidate for the Kasaragod constituency” was an “N.A. Muhammed”. The report also refers to “former Kasaragod DCC president, Kodoth Govindan , who is under suspension from the party for contesting as a rebel in the elections last year” (‘UDF to put up a united fight: Karunakaran’ 2004, The Hindu, 21 April http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/21/stories/2004042104930400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 12).

A 6 June 2004 Hindu report names “the Kasaragod Youth Congress president, Vinod Kumar” (‘Widen scope of probe: ’ 2004, The Hindu, 6 June http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/06/stories/2004060603970400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 14).

In April 2004 it was reported that “Narayana Bhatt, district panchayat member of the Congress from Karakkad in Kasaragod district, had joined the BJP with about 5,000 workers” (‘Christian families to join BJP’ 2004, The Hindu, 25 April http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/2004042503160500.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 15).

Another April 2004 report also refers to various dealings involving Kerala Congress party officials including the “readmitted Kodoth Govindan Nair, former Kasaragod DCC president who was expelled from the party for contesting against party nominee in last year’s Rajya Sabha elections”.

In a poll-oriented exercise to assuage disgruntled leaders in the party, the Congress High Command on Monday revoked the suspension of KPCC General Secretaries Rajmohan Unnithan and T Sarathchandra Prasad and readmitted Kodoth Govindan Nair, former Kasaragod DCC president who was expelled from the party for contesting against party nominee in last year’s Rajya Sabha elections.

While Unnithan and Prasad were suspended for their outbursts against Power Minister K Muraleedharan, Nair was expelled for six years after he contested against party candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls as a Karunakaran nominee (‘Action against 3 Cong leaders revoked’ 2004, , 26 April http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/640899.cms – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 16).

In May 2004 it was reported that a “petition was filed by K. C. Vijayan, an office-bearer of the Congress in the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency” in relation to an electoral irregularity. Details follow:

6 KOCHI, MAY 6. The Kerala High Court today refused to stay the operation of the Election Commission’s order allowing electors who have not obtained their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to cast their votes by producing alternative documents such as passports, property documents, ration cards, etc.

However, Justice Pius C. Kuriakose observed that whenever alternative documents were shown for identification, production of originals should be insisted upon by the presiding officers.

The Judge said that the presiding officers should `apply extra caution’ while accepting documents which pertained to more than one person (like title deeds) and did not have photograph of the voter concerned on them.

The identity cards issued by the cooperative banks should be scrutinised with due circumspection to avoid bogus voting. The court expressed its hope that the presiding officers would not show any lethargy or laxity in the matter.

The petition was filed by K. C. Vijayan, an office-bearer of the Congress in the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency. The Judge while dismissing the plea for staying the Election Commission order observed that since the election process was very much on, any interference at this stage with the order of the commission would result in interruption of the election process.

As per Article 329(b) of the Constitution, there was a bar on the courts in interfering with the election process. Besides, any interference with the order of the Commission could create confusion among the electorate.

According to the petitioner, once the notification had been issued under Rule 28 of the Registration of Electors Rule 1960, no voter could be permitted to cast his/her vote unless he/she produced the identity cards issued under the Rule. As per the order of the Commission, the voters who had not been able to secure the identify cards or who could not produce the electoral identity cards for reasons beyond their control could also use the documents like bank/kisan/post office passbooks, PAN cards etc to exercise their franchise.

The petitioner said that once the Election Commission notified a constituency for the use of Electoral Photo Identify Cards, it had no power to `de-notify’ the constituencies or exempt certain persons from production of photo identity cards or substitute them with other documents.

When the petition came up, the counsel for the Election Commission, Murali Purushothaman submitted that the 76 per cent of polling was now over and that the election process was now coming to a close. Besides, the right to vote was a valid statutory and Constitutional right and this right could not be denied to anybody on the ground that he had not been issued the EPIC.

He submitted that the alternative documents had been prescribed, keeping in mind various sections of the society. A common man who did not have a PAN card or passport could be identified only on the basis of identity card issued by local cooperative banks or the ration cards. Therefore, interference with the Election Commission order would upset the election process (‘Identity documents for voters: court declines to stay order’ 2004, The Hindu, 7 May http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/07/stories/2004050710310400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009 – Attachment 17).

7 Examples of Political violence in Kasaragod

The following reports are a sample only of the kind of reportage available and should not be read as a comprehensive listing of all political violence reported from Kasaragod involving Congress workers.

On 4 November 2008 The Hindu reported from Kasaragod that “Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president has accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of unleashing violence against Congress workers in different parts of the district”. Details follow:

He was inaugurating a district convention of the party here on Monday. Mr. Chennithala was referring to clashes between CPI(M) and Congress workers at Kanathur in the district. At least 15 people belonging to both parties were injured in the clashes there on Sunday.

Three vehicles were damaged when they were set on fire by clashing party workers. A few shops were also attacked.

Mr. Chennithala said the police remained inactive. They failed to take action against violation of democratic rights in many parts of the district, he said.

The Congress would launch an agitation if the CPI(M) continued to ‘deny democratic rights to rival political workers,’ he added (‘CPI(M) unleashing violence: Congress’ 2008, The Hindu, 4 November http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110451600400.htm – Accessed 5 March 2009 – Attachment 25).

On 27 April 2008 reported on an outbreak of political violence in Kasaragod which: “Four persons lost their lives gruesomely in four days of violence in Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala, exactly within 40 days of the disgusting and chilling attacks in Kannur in which five BJP and two CPI(M) workers were killed”. The report notes that the Congress party played some role in the events that transpired but the specifics of this role are unclear. The report also relates that “Kasaragod and Manjeswaram in the district are perhaps the only constituencies in Kerala where both the CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-headed UDF cooperate with each other in confronting their common enemy in elections, the BJP”; and that: “Kasaragod is not known for violence – political or communal – despite the fact that it has all the necessary ingredients for it”. The report follows:

Four persons lost their lives gruesomely in four days of violence in Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala, exactly within 40 days of the disgusting and chilling attacks in Kannur in which five BJP and two CPI(M) workers were killed. Nobody gives any credit to the State police under CPI(M) Home Minister , which has still not been able to make a convincing arrest for the Kannur killings, but the violence in Kasaragod came to an abrupt stop. Theories are many about this sudden brake on the murderous attacks: That the nefarious elements had fulfilled their mission; that the people in their thirst for peace were not ready to put up with violence anymore; that the presence of a large number of police personnel had simply made it impossible for the trouble-makers to continue their campaign. However, the solace lies in the fact that the violence stopped without further loss of life.

Kasaragod is not known for violence – political or communal – despite the fact that it has all the necessary ingredients for it. People living in this territory with vast stretches of loose soil, fast-flowing rivers, stagnant estuaries and socially and economically wrong kinds of connections with places like , Mumbai and even the Gulf, are in fact known to be

8 quite loving and hospitable. One cannot be sure of communal harmony here, but communal hatred has not been a huge problem despite its potential.

It is in this background – of the potential for communal strife – that the violence that started here on April 14 and ended on April 18 is to be seen. The fact that one of the six arrested so far is an activist of the Islamist resistance group National Development Front (NDF) gives the violence a very serious turn.

The social soil of Kasaragod is fertile for extremist religious ideologies to grow. For some reason, the people of most other parts of Kerala fail to see Kasaragod as a natural part of their State. This alienation is not helped by the activities of the various sections of people in this district as well. For an average citizen in Kasaragod, the immediate business town is not Kozhikode in Kerala but Mangalore in , or Mumbai, or even Dubai or Manama. The Mumbai connection became stronger with the opening of the Konkan Railway. Police intelligence says that hawala money flourishes in the area, and that it is not easy to stop it because such methods have already become an economic reality here. Yet, it is equally true that Kasaragod is also home to many poor, law-abiding people.

The different communities normally live in peace in Kasaragod, though the place might not be the best example of social harmony. Certain political parties have always played a dubious role here. Even in the case of the recent violence, such a development was suspected. The problem in Kasaragod is that if anyone is bent on creating such problems there is no way to stop him due to the place’s peculiarities in terms of territorial characteristics, economics, transportation facilities and wide-ranging connections with all kinds of elements in cities like Mumbai and Mangalore. The police has aired suspicion that the perpetrators of the recent violence had used hired underworld muscle power from Mumbai. That was one of the reasons for the Home Minister’s blanket permission to the police to open fire at anybody who was seen indulging in violence.

The Sangh Parivar organisations’ allegation that certain parties could have direct or indirect connections with the recent violence cannot be seen as mere political gimmick. Kasaragod and Manjeswaram in the district are perhaps the only constituencies in Kerala where both the CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-headed UDF cooperate with each other in confronting their common enemy in elections, the BJP. There are no open alliances, but that the parties make a pact for defeating the BJP is a fact admitted by all. Even intelligence officials say that one cannot rule out the possibility of political games behind the recent violence with the intention of re-formulating this electoral circumstance of Kasaragod.

Though the Home Department under the CPI(M) did not have much role in the abrupt stoppage of the violence, Minister Kodiyeri and his police seemed to have intelligently stepped in. But Congress, the main Opposition party in the State, cut a sorry figure with their untimely moves on such a sensitive issue. The violence had stopped altogether on April 18 and the State Congress leadership’s observance of a “peace fast” on April 22 was seen as a desperate act to turn the political fortunes in its favour. Congressmen, who did not like the idea, were heard saying that the act had earned a lot of negative marks for the party (‘The Mayhem at Kasaragod’ 2008, The Pioneer, 27 April – Attachment 26).

On 17 May 2007 it was reported that “Congress party and several shops in Poinachy, near Kasaragod town, were destroyed by an armed gang” and that “Congress leaders alleged that BJP workers were behind the attack”. Extracts follow:

The assailants also attacked and wounded Youth Congress Poinachy unit president Hariharan Motta. The Congress leaders alleged that BJP workers were behind the attack.

9 Poinachy and nearby areas observed a hartal on Wednesday following a call by the Congress party and the Vyapari Vayvasai Ekopana Samithi. The area had witnessed clashes between Congress and BJP workers on Sunday night. Two BJP workers and an INTUC worker were injured in Sunday’s clash.

According to Congress leaders, the assailants who came from outside Poinachy, arrived in two jeeps by 11 p.m. and unleashed violence in the area.

They said the Poinachy town Congress committee office was ravaged by attackers. They also destroyed the office of Netaji Arts and Sports Club, Poinachy. Seven shops, which include STD booths, hotels and fruit stalls, were destroyed in the attack..

The gang later chased away Mr. Hariharan and attacked him with weapons, said Congress leaders. Mr. Hariharan has been admitted to Well Care hospital there (‘Congress office, shops vandalised’ 2007, The Hindu, 17 May http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/17/stories/2007051708240300.htm – Accessed 5 March 2009 – Attachment 29).

March 2001 saw reports of violence between Congress and CPI-M workers in Kasaragod with subsequent police arrests.

A Congress worker was shot dead by suspected CPI(M) workers near Bandadka here last night. Irate Congress workers today set ablaze a CPI(M) local office and opened fire at the police, leaving nine of them injured.

The police identified the deceased as U.S. Haricharan (22). They said that he was shot dead at around 9 a.m. near a desolate place at Annadukka, near Chamakochi in Bandadka under the Bedakam police station limits. He was returning home with his friend, Suresh, after playing volleyball at a nearby place when a group of men, allegedly CPI(M) workers, swooped on him.

The assailants stabbed him and then shot him using a country fire arm, the police said. His associate fled from the assailants. The body of the Congress worker was found this morning.

The police said a case had been registered against five CPI(M) workers in connection with the murder. They have been identified as Mahesh, Chaniyan, Janardhanan, Kunhiraman and Gopinathan.

The incident has left the entire area comprising Bandadka and Karibedakam villages tense. The Congress has called for a hartal to protest against the murder.

Trouble began when irate Congress workers, in a retaliatory mood, started attacking a newly- built CPI(M) office after the body was removed from the spot and sent for post-mortem to the Pariyaram Medical College by noon. The body will be brought back to the place after the post-mortem tomorrow, they said.

The police said that a group of around 400 Congress workers, some of them carrying country revolvers, set afire the CPI(M) office at around 2 p.m. When the police rushed to the spot to disperse the mob, they were fired at. Nine of them, including the Kumbala Sub-Inspector, Mr. P.K. Fasaluddin, and the Reserve Police Sub- Inspector, Mr. Premarajan, suffered minor injuries. They have been admitted to a local hospital.

The police said that a posse of policemen was deployed in the tension-hit areas. Bandadka and nearby areas are notorious for the gun culture among rival political parties (‘Cong. worker shot near Kasaragod’ 2001, The Hindu, 25 March

10 http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/03/25/stories/0425211s.htm – Accessed 5 March 2009 – Attachment 28).

4. Deleted.

List of Sources Consulted

Internet Sources: Google search engine http://www.google.com

Databases:

FACTIVA (news database)

BACIS (DIAC Country Information database) REFINFO (IRBDC (Canada) Country Information database) ISYS (RRT Research & Information database, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US Department of State Reports) RRT Library Catalogue

List of Attachments

1. Krishnakumar, R. 2004, ‘A red-wash in the South’, Frontline, vol.21: no.11, 22 May http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2111/stories/20040604006302600.htm – Accessed 3 March 2009.

2. Kumar, G.G. 2004, ‘Kerala bucks the national trend, once again’, The Hindu, 20 May http://www.hinduonnet.com/elections2004/verdict2004/stories/2004052000230300.ht m – Accessed 3 March 2009.

3. Iype, G. 2006, ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’, Rediff.com, 10 April http://www.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 20 October 2008.

4. ‘Left pulls out, will meet President Patil on Wednesday’ 2008, Express India, 8 July http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Left-pulls-out-will-meet-President-Patil-on- Wednesday/332876/ – Accessed 20 October 2008.

5. ‘Historic win for Left; Congress draws blank’ 2004, The Hindu, 14 May http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/14/stories/2004051406690700.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

6. ‘Kasargod Parliament Constituency’ (undated), Kasaragod District Administration website http://kasargod.nic.in/administration/mp.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

7. ‘LDF wins majority of seats in civic bypolls’ 2004, The Hindu, 30 September http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093011120400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

8. Muraleedharan, N. 2006, ‘2006: Political conflicts in Kerala’, Rediff.com, 20 December http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/20year.htm – Accessed 6 July 2007.

11 9. Lype, George 2006, ‘Kerala: Where change is static’, Rediff.com, 11 May http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/may/11gi.htm – Accessed 6 July 2007.

10. Election Commission of India 2006, Statistical Report on General Election, 2006 to the Legislative Assembly of Kerala, Election Commission of India website http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_2006/StatReport_KL_2006.pdf – Accessed 20 October 2008.

11. Constitution & Rules of The Indian National Congress (As amended by the AICC meeting at Delhi on 17th November, 2007) & Rules (As approved by the Congress Working Committee at its meeting on 7th November, 2007 & Ratified by the AICC on 17th November, 2007), Indian National Congress website http://www.aicc.org.in/Constitution%20FINAL%2012.6.08.pdf – Accessed 4 March 2009.

12. ‘UDF to put up a united fight: Karunakaran’ 2004, The Hindu, 21 April http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/21/stories/2004042104930400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

13. ‘Thennala assigns responsibilities to KPCC office-bearers’ 2004, The Hindu, 11 August http://www.hindu.com/2004/08/11/stories/2004081108630400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

14. ‘Widen scope of probe: Oommen Chandy’ 2004, The Hindu, 6 June http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/06/stories/2004060603970400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

15. ‘Christian families to join BJP’ 2004, The Hindu, 25 April http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/25/stories/2004042503160500.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

16. ‘Action against 3 Cong leaders revoked’ 2004, The Times of India, 26 April http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/640899.cms – Accessed 4 March 2009.

17. ‘Identity documents for voters: court declines to stay order’ 2004, The Hindu, 7 May http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/07/stories/2004050710310400.htm – Accessed 4 March 2009.

18. Deleted.

19. Deleted.

20. Deleted.

21. Deleted.

22. Deleted.

23. Deleted.

24. Deleted.

12 25. ‘CPI(M) unleashing violence: Congress’ 2008, The Hindu, 4 November http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110451600400.htm – Accessed 5 March 2009.

26. The Mayhem at Kasaragod’ 2008, The Pioneer, 27 April. (FACTIVA)

27. Deleted.

28. ‘Cong. worker shot near Kasaragod’ 2001, The Hindu, 25 March http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/03/25/stories/0425211s.htm – Accessed 5 March 2009.

29. Deleted.

30. ‘Kerala’s political jigsaw, unravelled’ 2006, Rediff website, 10 April http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/10pkerala.htm – Accessed 19 January 2007.

13